Politics · South Korea · 2 hrs ago
South Korea’s Democratic Party apologizes over governor’s fire budget remark
Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae called fire services a “financial straw” during a parliamentary audit, referring to the cost of funding them.
She said firefighters’ wages alone would cost 1.1 trillion won in 2027.
Firefighters’ unions condemned the wording and said it demeaned their work protecting lives and property.
Gyeonggi Province said Choo was highlighting that local governments still pay much of the cost even though firefighters became national government employees.
The Democratic Party has now apologized to firefighters and their families for the hurt caused by the remark.
The party said it would review its support for firefighters and work to address the reliance on local government funding.
The sources do not describe any further steps or a direct apology from Choo.
South Korea’s Democratic Party apologized after Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae described fire-service funding as a “financial straw” during a parliamentary audit.
The party said the remark had hurt firefighters and their families and that it had not sufficiently considered firefighters’ work and pride.
Firefighters’ unions condemned the wording and called for an apology.
Gyeonggi Province said Choo was highlighting the burden on local finances of paying firefighters’ salaries despite their conversion to national civil servants.
- Who
- The Democratic Party, Gyeonggi Governor Choo Mi-ae and firefighters’ unions.
- What
- The Democratic Party apologized over Choo’s description of fire-service funding as a “financial straw.
- When
- Choo made the remark on October 13, 2026; the party apologized on October 16.
- Where
- At a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province in Suwon, South Korea.
- Why
- Firefighters’ unions said the remark demeaned firefighters and treated them as a financial burden. Gyeonggi Province said Choo was stressing that local governments still bear much of the cost.
Firefighters’ unions
Gyeonggi Province
Character of the remark
Firefighters’ unions
The unions said Choo’s words demeaned firefighters and treated them as a budget burden.
Gyeonggi Province
The province said the remark was intended to highlight the local governments’ financial burden.
Responsibility for funding
Firefighters’ unions
The Korean Firefighters Union called for the national government to cover firefighters’ salaries and reform the budget structure.
Gyeonggi Province
The province said local governments still pay much of the cost despite firefighters’ conversion to national civil servants.
Choo described fire-service funding as a “financial straw” during a parliamentary audit of Gyeonggi Province.
The National Government Employees’ Union fire-service division condemned the remark and demanded an apology.
The Korean Firefighters Union criticized the remark and called for changes to the funding structure.
The Democratic Party apologized to firefighters and their families.
- Governor
- Choo Mi-ae
- Province
- Gyeonggi Province, South Korea
- Remark made
- October 13, 2026
- Projected 2027 fire-service salaries
- 1.1 trillion won
- Projected fire-service operating costs
- About 500 billion won
4 sources
What people are saying
I sincerely apologize to firefighters and their families who were hurt by the expression Governor Choo used while explaining fire-service finances.
Firefighters are not a straw draining someone’s pocket, but the last guardians the people can rely on.
As you said, fire services seem like the biggest troublesome financial straw.
Salaries alone will consume 1.1 trillion won in 2027.